Sudan death toll far higher than previously reported – study
More than 61,000 people have died in Khartoum state, where the fighting began last year, researchers say.
Southern Water’s debt downgraded to junk status by Moody’s
Company close to technical default on some of its debt, underlining UK industry’s precarious state
Southern Water’s debt has been downgraded to junk status by the credit rating agency Moody’s in a decision that underlines the precarious state of the UK water industry.
Moody’s said Southern’s “history of material operational and financial under-performance” could imperil its plan, announced last month, to borrow £4bn from investors.
Continue reading...Colombia outlaws child marriage after 17-year campaign
Country closes 137-year legal loophole, becoming one of 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean to entirely ban marriage for minors
Colombian lawmakers have approved a bill to eradicate child marriage in the South American country after 17 years of campaigning by advocacy groups and eight failed attempts to push legislation through the house and senate.
After five hours of heated, drawn-out debate on Wednesday evening, lawmakers approved the proposed legislation, dubbed They are Girls, Not Wives, which prohibits the marriage of anyone under the age of 18.
Continue reading...Maori politicians disrupt New Zealand parliament vote with haka
New Zealand’s parliament was interrupted by Maori politicians who performed a haka to protest against a new bill.
Man seen rescuing trapped children in Valencia floods
The man and four children, including his daughter, were trapped inside at a English language school.
Florida liberal arts college reinstates ‘wokeness’ course amid furore
Course set to be taught by controversial British ‘anti-woke’ media commentator Andrew Doyle
New College of Florida reinstated a course on “wokeness” taught by controversial British media personality and culture warrior Andrew Doyle to its catalog, after appearing to remove it from an earlier version, amid an ongoing furore over the university’s transformation into a more conservative institution.
The course was also restored to an internal enrollment system but without Doyle’s name attached, according to students with access to the system. The moves followed criticism of the course online and local media reports on Tuesday night.
Continue reading...Bill Clinton book describes ‘frustration’ over Monica Lewinsky affair questions
In new memoir Citizen, Clinton acknowledges he has not directly apologized to Lewinsky over White House affair
Bill Clinton, the former US president, has written of his “frustration” at being questioned about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky while acknowledging that he has never apologized to her directly.
Clinton became embroiled in one of the biggest political scandals in history when it emerged in 1998 that he had a sexual relationship with the then 22-year-old Lewinsky. The president, who initially lied before apologizing, was impeached by the House of Representatives but acquitted by the Senate.
Continue reading...When will greenhouse gas emissions finally peak? Could be soon – NPR
- When will greenhouse gas emissions finally peak? Could be soon NPR
- We were supposed to hit peak emissions. Why won’t they stop rising? Vox.com
- ‘Fossil Fuels Are Still Winning’: Global Emissions Head for a Record The New York Times
- Amid Earth's heat records, scientists report another bump upward in annual carbon emissions The Associated Press
- ‘No sign’ of promised fossil fuel transition as emissions hit new high The Guardian
Video: Massive explosion hits tent camp in Gaza ‘safe zone’
Video captured the moment of an Israeli attack on a tent camp in Gaza’s al-Mawasi.
One dead after attack on Brazil’s Supreme Court
The suspected attacker is believed to have been killed by his own explosives.
Kyiv denies Ukraine plans to develop nuclear weapons if US aid ceases – Новая газета. Европа
- Kyiv denies Ukraine plans to develop nuclear weapons if US aid ceases Новая газета. Европа
- Could Zelensky use nuclear bombs? Ukraine’s options explained The Times
- Could Zelensky really go nuclear and build a ‘dirty bomb’ if Trump ends US support of Ukraine? The Independent
- Ukraine Is Now Facing a Nuclear Decision Foreign Policy
- Will Ukraine develop its own nuclear weapons? Kyiv Independent
New Zealand MP disrupts parliament with haka protest
The Treaty Principles Bill seeks to redefine the principles that have been used in support of Māori.
World’s largest coral discovered in Pacific near Solomon Islands – Al Jazeera English
- World’s largest coral discovered in Pacific near Solomon Islands Al Jazeera English
- Scientists say world's largest coral found near Solomon Islands Yahoo! Voices
- See Staggering Photos of the World's Largest Coral, Newly Discovered by Scientists in the Pacific Ocean Smithsonian Magazine
- Divers Thought They'd Found A Shipwreck, But This Giant Shadow Is Alive IFLScience
- Scientists just discovered a sea creature as large as two basketball courts. Here’s what it looks like. Vox.com
World’s largest coral discovered in Pacific near Solomon Islands
Scientists say coral 'pulsing with life and colour' is 300 years old and three times larger than previous record holder.
New defense minister says ‘disarming Hezbollah’ a war aim, drawing look from IDF chief – The Times of Israel
- New defense minister says ‘disarming Hezbollah’ a war aim, drawing look from IDF chief The Times of Israel
- Netanyahu Plans a Big Gift for Trump—Two Months From Now The New Republic
- U.S. hands Lebanon draft truce proposal, two sources say Reuters
- Israel’s maximalist demands unlikely to lead to ceasefire with Hezbollah Al Jazeera English
- Israel says it has expanded its military ground operation in Lebanon CNN
Protests against pro-Israel gala on eve of France-Israel match
There were clashes in Paris on Wednesday night between French police and pro-Palestine protesters.
Burberry’s turnaround chief plans £40m cuts and ‘scarf bar’ rollout
Shares in fashion brand jump as ‘urgent’ cost-cutting programme announced following half-year losses
Burberry has unveiled a £40m cost-cutting programme as its new chief executive pledged to “stabilise the business” with a turnaround plan aimed at reviving the fortunes of the ailing British luxury fashion brand.
Joshua Schulman, the former Coach boss who replaced his ousted predecessor, Jonathan Akeroyd, in July, said the company was “acting with urgency” after straying too far from its roots of “timeless core collections” and outerwear, including trench coats and scarves with its distinctive Burberry check.
Continue reading...Paris prosecutor seeks jail and public office ban for Marine Le Pen
Request in embezzlement trial threatens to undermine National Rally’s efforts to polish image before 2027 polls
A Paris prosecutor has requested a five-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office for the far-right leader Marine Le Pen, at a trial in which she and 24 others are accused of embezzling EU funds.
The trial, which comes almost a decade after initial investigations started, threatens to undermine her National Rally (RN) party’s efforts to polish its image before the 2027 presidential election, which many believe she could win.
Continue reading...Insults and a haka in New Zealand parliament as MPs debate Māori rights bill
Voting temporarily suspended amid disruptions including a Māori party MP ripping up a copy of the bill
New Zealand’s parliament has erupted into fiery debate, personal attacks and a haka over a controversial bill that proposes to radically alter the way New Zealand’s treaty between Māori and the crown is interpreted.
The treaty principles bill was tabled by the libertarian Act party – a minor partner in New Zealand’s coalition government – and passed its first reading on Thursday, amid scathing speeches and disruptions.
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